Weekend Buzz | How to Be a Write-In Candidate

Also: give help, get help, and satisfy your sweet tooth

We had a really good sky day the other day. I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of the gorgeous blue sky and patterned clouds. Photo by author.

Good Morning, Burlington!

The Buzz is here this weekend with some quick hits:

Be a Write-In Candidate

The local election is coming up in just four weeks! We are shaping up to have a full ballot in town-wide elections, but unfortunately there are a few seats that remain open for Town Meeting members. If you didn’t get a chance to return nomination papers, or if you waited too long to decide, never fear! You can still run as a write-in candidate, and the process is pretty simple. Here are some details from Town Clerk, Amy Warfield:

Write-in candidates run for office without filing nomination papers. Your name won’t appear on the ballot. For each office on the ballot, there is a write-in space below the list of candidates. Voters can write your name and address in the space for the office you’re seeking. You can also distribute stickers for voters to place in the write-in space. 

It is recommended that you let local election officials know if you plan to run a write-in campaign, so they can prepare the election workers who will be counting the votes. You will also need to tell the public about your write-in or sticker campaign. Make sure you tell voters everything they need to do to vote for a write-in or sticker candidate so that their vote can be counted. The voter writes in only the name and address of the candidate. They don’t write in a political party or other designation. The voter should fill in the oval next to the write-in space. When the voter fills in the oval, the tabulators will segregate that ballot into a separate compartment to be hand-counted at the close of the polls. 

If the open seats are not filled at the election then the precinct has a meeting to fill the seat for the next year.  Those meetings are held prior to the Annual Town Meeting.

BPS Homework Helpers

BPS Homework Helpers is a program where high school students can earn community service hours by tutoring middle school students after school. The program, run by retired BPS teacher, Marcia Murphy, has been going strong for seven years. If you’re interested in your child participating in this program, you can get more information and contact Marcia at the link above.

Adopt-a-Class 2034 Wants to Sweeten Your Spring

The Class of 2034 is holding a candy fundraiser to support the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation’s Dollars for Scholars initiative, and orders are due by March 23rd. Find more information below or visit the Class of 2034 Facebook page. There will also be a parent meeting next Wednesday, March 8, at the Made in Burlington store. They’re seeking parents of current first graders to support their efforts, and specifically Pine Glen families.

Sports Update

The boys’ basketball team won their first playoff game in Canton last night 62-50 and will play #3 seed, Sharon, in the Round of 16 next Tuesday at 6:00.

The girls’ hockey team will play their own Round of 16 today at noon in Winchester.

Stay warm and safe today; hopefully the snow doesn’t hamper your weekend plans!

Until tomorrow,

Nicci